Tv Schedule

The Maven's Haven

By Stan Fischler

• Since the Canadiens now are tilting heavily toward francophones from g.m. Marc Bergevin to coach Michel Therrien, the odds suggest that the Habs will offer crazy dough to land free agent P.A. Parenteau.

• Erik Karlsson's triumph in the Norris Trophy race clearly indicates that voters pay little heed to defense. Karlsson is more of a rover than defenseman and was one of the chief reasons why Ottawa lost its first round playoff to the Rangers. His work defensively and on the power play was nothing short of inept.

• Who will succeed Tom Renney as head coach of the Oilers? Terry Jones of The Edmonton Sun picks Ralph Krueger, who served as Renney’s assistant coach for the past two years. “Krueger isn't saying it. But there's more than enough in what he does say to believe there is only one candidate in the running for the position,” writes Jones.

• Reader Dan Marrazza, who was at the Draft, digs up some insightful stats: “Stefan Matteau became the third son of a 1994 Ranger to be drafted into the NHL, when he was selected by theDevils 29th overall. Other 1994 Ranger sons to be drafted are Keegan Lowe, son of Kevin Lowe, current President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers (drafted 3rd round, 2011/Carolina) and Brock Beukeboom, son of former Ranger defenseman Jeff Beukeboom, (drafted 3rd round, 2010/Tampa Bay).

• Hartford Courant columnist Jeff Jacobs did some neat newspapering after Connecticut’s Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Jacobs located the other Smythe-winner from the Nutmeg State. That would be Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, more recently an MSG Network analyst. Brian’s X-Ray of Quick’s goaltending style is right on target. Listen up: “Jonathan’s quickness post to post is extraordinary. Everybody focused on Tim Thomas last year with a different style, a hybrid. I wouldn’t put Jonathan in the same category, but he stood out in how low he gets and how quick he is. It looks unorthodox, different from the straight butterfly and cover-your-angles, but he always ends up in the same position where he’s square to the puck. You think you see an opening. All of a sudden a pad flashes. He was great.”

• Should Matt Moulson have won the Lady Byng Trophy? Reader Jordan Schoem makes a good case for the Islanders player over Brian Campbell of the Panthers. “Moulson had only six penalty minutes last season, while posting 36 goals,” writes Jordan. “That was a high percentage of the Islanders offense, and it would be hard to imagine how many more games the Islanders would have lost had they not had Moulson in their lineup.Moulson also had five game-winning goals this year, which is five more than Campbell, who did not accomplish that feat once this season.”

• Buffalo’s first pick (12th overall) in this year’s Draft, Mikhail Grigorenko, looks forward to making the big club in 2012-13. Considering Grigorenko’s talent and ability, it’s quite possible that he’ll crack the opening night lineup. Mikhail also hopes to wear number 89 for in honor of his hometown hero and ex-Sabres ace, Alexander Mogilny.